Buttons tend to pop out of the ground in all sorts of places. Lots of different types and sizes. Some have designs or a makers name on them. If you can identify them you may be able to work out (roughly) when it was lost. It can be handy info for detecting. The same applies to other non-precious bits and pieces you can find. In my experience the older the items the better your prospects for valuables (jewellery, coins etc) or nuggets.
Dug this little fellow the other day. It's 67mm or just over 2 and a half inches wide. Either came off a hairy-nosed wombat or a pit pony which was used in the old mining days.
No worries EM just thought Moments was nice for you as you had captured some moments in another time. : )
This is known as a "Ballarat Miners' Pick". It is based on a chinese design, but tailored for use in the Victorian Goldfields. It is 32cm or 12.5 inches in length. The head features a flat bladed pick and a hammer head, rather than a dual pick or mattock design. The short head allowed for better swinging in small holes, shafts and drives. Parts of the original wooden handle and wedge are still present. The handle would have been angled rather than square to the pickhead. Like a number "7" if that makes any sense. This example would be from the late 19th or early 20th century. Older examples were less robust and of varying design and quality, made by blacksmiths or imported by the Chinese. This one I reckon was produced in a foundry. Still an antique though.
Two pendants of unknown origin. Both unmarked but I believe they are silver. The flower is very thin and delicate. Not certain of where it is from. Any suggestions are welcome. Same with the cross. Does its shape signify any particular denomination?
No worries about this cufflink being silver. Unfortunately the torpedo thingy is not solid. Unknown origin.
To remove ALL the rust, soak them in molasses and water (1:9) for two to three weeks. Get cheap molasses from a stock feed store.
What is on the other side of the Token in the pic ? http://forums.silverstackers.com/message-417414.html#p417414
Bugger all (that means nothing for anybody who dont know). Its a stamped belt buckle. There was a small piece of metal on the side of it that unfortunately broke off. Will get my loupe out and see what else I can see.... ...edit to add: He has a miners pick near or in his left hand. A small plant is near his left leg and possibly a fire?? There are hills over his left shoulder and a streaming sunrise/sunset. His hat may have a small badge or buckle on the hatband.
EM, why dont you open a thread and post all your findings there? Steve does one for his sale. I am sure a lot of people will find it interesting just a thought. LD
Send this mob an email, they may be able to help or could be interested http://www.vicbuttonclub.com.au/
Thanks for the suggestion. I suppose thats what this thread sort of is? Happy though for anybody else to also post interesting finds here as well. I doubt I have anything worth huge money but just happy to share interesting stuff. I put value in the interest of objects. If you run around and only get satisfaction out of digging stuf worth $$, you are missing (more than) half the fun. Anybody who has any info on anything put on here please contribute. There are many interesting things to be found out and about. Most of these buttons and items could be found with a decent VLF detector, rather than the gold hunter I use.
An 1854 British fourpence. Also known as a "groat". I rate this as interesting because groats were only produced for 20 or so years back in the 1800's. It's date also holds significance because in December 1854 the Eureka Stockade incident occurred. Depending on your view of Australian history this was the birthplace of our democracy, or just a bunch of smelly miners getting their right whack by having their arses shot off. I tend to the former but it has always been subject to wide interpretation. This coin may have been in Ballarat at the time of the rebellion, but I reckon in transit on a ship between here and England would be most likely.
That appears to be in pretty good condition, the dirt is nothing there is plenty of detail there. Looks better than this one - http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VICTORIA-...UK_Coins_BritishMilled_RL&hash=item337d181165 Unfortunately no big win fall that I can see. You could give it a clean, I know it is not verdigris but this may work well - http://www.wizardcoinsupply.com/products/verdi-care.html
I might get some of that cleaner and try it on some buttons. Also a couple of older coins with more crap on them than the above. I would love to be able to properly clean a cartwheel penny I have. Soaked it in oil for a few months but to no avail. I have another fourpence I found dated 1838 (from memory). Its stashed somewhere so I cant supply a pic.
